Karnataka buses, drivers targeted in Maharashtra

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The ongoing spat between the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) and pro-Kannada outfits in the state has hit inter-state transport operations with Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) suspending the operation of buses to Maharashtra indefinitely in the wake of attacks on state buses by activists of Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti(MES) and Shiv Sena in the last three to four days.

On Monday, a bus belonging to NEKRTC from Mumbai to Kalaburagi was stopped by MES activists who painted slogans in black paint on the bus. They also forced the driver to hold the MES flag and raise ‘Jai Maharashtra’ slogans. Saffron flags were also put up on the bus and the video has gone viral in social media. Following this, KSRTC authorities decided to suspend the running of buses to Maharashtra till tensions between the two states decreases.

In Kolhapur, it was alleged that the Shiv Sena activists went to the houses of Kannada-speaking persons and threatened them. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has already stated that the government is committed to protecting Kannadigas living in Maharashtra and has directed Karnataka DG&IGP Praveen Sood to talk to his Maharashtra counterpart to ensure the safety of Kannadigas living in Maharashtra. The state government has also taken serious note of the action taken by a few Shiv Sena activists who stopped the construction of a building belonging to Muzrai Minister Shashikala Jolle in Kolhapur city till she tendered an apology for the defiling of the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji near Sankey tank in Bengaluru last week. The Maharashtra Police have been asked to take stringent action against miscreants who threatened the Karnataka minister.

Three held

Meanwhile, three persons have been arrested in connection with the burning of the Kannada flag and the damaging of the portrait of 12th century social reformer, Basavanna at Halasi village in Khanapur taluk of Belagavi district on Sunday night.

The accused belonged to the same village and were said to be MES workers. The miscreants also damaged the flag post on which the Karnataka flag was hoisted. Close on the heels of this incident, Nandaghad Police registered a suo motu case and arrested the trio. On Monday, villagers cleaned the whole area and hoisted a new flag atop the Gram Panchayat building thus sending a befitting message to the trouble makers.

Meeting convened

Former MLA and President of Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha, Vatal Nagaraj has convened a meeting of all Kannada organizations on Wednesday at Hotel Woodlands at 11 am following the desecration of the Sangolli Rayanna statue and the damaging of over 20 Karnataka government vehicles in Belagavi City Friday night. Vatal is likely to call for a Karnataka bandh next week to show the unity of people and to demand a ban on MES for creating problems in the border district.